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| Hiking | 12.43 Miles |
2,071 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.43 Miles | 6 Hrs 7 Mns | | 2.56 mph |
| 2,071 ft AEG | 1 Hour 16 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Bruce and Joe were headed up to Humphreys Peak on Saturday. Bruce has been getting after me for being too quiet and said I would turn into a mushroom if I didn't get out more. After a number of set backs in recent months, I targeted this day to get back out anyway, but I like his mushroom story better, so that's what I'm going with. Besides, my inactivity was causing some serious mushrooming around an already robust spare tire. Time to get out!!!
After driving up together, Joe and the Eagle headed up where only eagles dare, followed by a side trip to Walker Lake. I went to the other side of the parking lot and set off on the Kachina trail. I saw a number of people on Kachina and they were all happy, so I started imagining this as the happy trail. It's a beautiful trail from start to finish. I soon became one of the happy people, too. 
I followed the trail to Weatherford, turned south and followed Weatherford for about a third of a mile. Where the trail bends around to the left, I went off trail to the right in a SSW direction, heading for what I hoped would be a nice overlook. I was following what the FS Topo showed as an old jeep road. I saw no signs of the road but stayed on the track I drew up until I reached a well defined use trail that led me right to where I wanted to be. This trail eventually intersects with the Kachina Spur Trail #150A. I stayed on the use trail until I reached a parking area at the end of FR 522, then went off trail in a NNW direction to get back to Kachina. This parking area would make a great shuttle or key exchange hike for the Kachina trail.
The way back was every bit as delightful as the way in. It was warmer as I headed back, probably in the low 80's, but still very nice. With only one hike since January, though, my endurance was lacking and I started hurting with a couple of miles to go. The elevation gain on this trail is moderate, but it's a roller coaster with most of the gain on the way back. Two miles is a long way at that altitude when you have little left in the tank. As I trudged on, I was no longer one of the happy people. 
The end of my hike in no way diminishes the absolute joy I had for the majority of this hike. This is a great hike; I just wasn't ready to hike that much of it.
After I finished my hike, I drove over to Walker Lake to wait for Joe and Bruce. I had a nice book to read, so the time passed quickly. We loaded up on the $1 menu at Del Taco just before leaving Flagstaff, then enjoyed an easy ride back to Happy Valley. It was a great day! |
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